Forget dodging hungry seagulls and rain showers on the beach, and put your summer to good use this year – with an internship! 

If you are a second, third or final-year undergraduate student, this is your opportunity to undertake a six-week internship with a UK employer during the summer vacation.  

All roles will start in June or July and are a great chance to gain valuable paid work experience, develop the key skills that employers look for, and explore different career options. 

This year’s internships come from organisations in a range of sectors, including charities and social enterprises, media production, PR and marketing, technology, software development, political parties and consultancy. You can even join our Sustainability Team here at Sussex! 

It’s a great way to spend your summer break: in 2023, 96% of students said they would recommend their internship employer to other students.  

Plus it's a great stepping stone into the career of your choice: almost one in four employers said their intern has successfully taken up further or permanent employment with them. 

Hear from students who have been interns in the past 

Maighsi joined the Sustainability Team at Sussex last summer, liaising with various departments across the University to collect data for our Times Higher Education Impact Rankings submission. 

“I had the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills through planning engagement activities, mapping waste activity on campus, and taking courses on carbon literacy,” she says. “From the very start I felt involved in the team, not only by joining in meetings but with a Brighton beach clean, a Green Impact awards ceremony and a team cycle to campus. 

“Having just graduated from Sussex, I loved the opportunity to apply my knowledge and to understand how to implement real-life responses to climate change. And I learnt about the challenges which all universities face: how to increase recycling rates on campus, how to engage students in sustainability, and how to reduce emissions from food and waste.” 

Read more about Maighsi’s time with the team. 

Flo joined ESTEEM, a Shoreham-based charity that works with young adults to build lasting self-esteem and stronger communities, to organise the summer Holiday Activities and Food programme. 

“This internship has challenged me in so many ways. Every day has been different: fun, interesting, and occasionally tough. I’ve had to think deeply, stay quick on my feet, and adapt to new and unexpected situations.  

“One of the most valuable aspects has been the reflective practice we engage in. After each session, we debrief to evaluate what went well, what could be improved, and how we can implement those insights moving forward. This has been an incredibly helpful tool for personal and professional growth.”  

Read Flo and Sammy’s internship blog about their time with ESTEEM. 

How to apply for a summer internship 

To find out more, and to browse and apply for Career Lab UK Summer Internships, visit UK summer internship : University of Sussex